San Diego Comic-Con is home to a lot of ‘firsts.’ This year was no exception, as Preacher took to the stage at Hall H and treated the audience to a live table read of the penultimate episode.

With the end of Preacher’s first season looming on the horizon, there was little doubt that we were going to get a taste of what was coming next for the inhabitants of Annville. But whilst most of the fans in the audience might have been anticipating a couple of clips, or a trailer of some description for both the finale and penultimate episode, what the cast and crew brought to the panel instead was something far more special and unique. A live table read.

Of course, without the full complement of cast available to lend their voices to all the roles needed for an entire episode, some “friends” were enlisted to help things along…

Kevin Smith, Danielle Panabaker and Jason Mantzoukas joined Dominic Cooper (Jesse Custer), Ruth Negga (Tulip O’Hare), Joseph Gilgun (Cassidy), Ian Colletti (Arseface), Graham McTavish (The Cowboy) and producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg to take us through the bloody and violent episode hitting screens on Sunday, July 24. And trust us, this is one episode you won’t want to miss.

Without giving too much away, expect the “birth” of a much anticipated character, the gruesome demise of another (at the hands of someone we certainly weren’t expecting), and some more touching scenes between Cassidy and Jesse. Though whether that particular scene plays out exactly how Gilgun presented it remains to be seen.

Following the table read, Kevin Smith stepped up as moderator, and we learned a few interesting things about the production and behind the scenes of the show.

1. The original pitch to AMC for Preacher was a page-by-page translation of the source material to the screen. It was on the advice of creator Garth Ennis that the show took on a life of its own and deviated.
2. Garth Ennis said that the show was full of stuff he wishes he’d thought of — such as Cassidy and Tulip’s introductions, and the motel scene.
3. Dominic Cooper was initially uneasy about playing Jesse Custer, because of just what the character meant for fans. But despite that he was desperate to play him. But as for how Jesse Custer has progressed throughout the first season? “He’s much more dislikable than I thought,” Cooper said.
4. Why didn’t Genesis make Jesse explode like the rest of the religious figures it inhabited? “He’s half good and half evil.”
5. How does Preacher differ from some of Rogen’s other projects? “There is less improvising than anything we’ve ever done,” he told the audience. “The lack of improv is what adds to the show so much.”
6. Ian Colette’s prosthetics and make-up are some of the most impressive on the show, and it takes two to two and a half hours to get him screen ready. But it makes things more than a little restrictive for him. “It covers my whole face and nose, so if you sneeze, it’s pretty disgusting.”
7. When someone took issue with Tulip and Cassidy’s romance — after her ‘strong’ introduction — Seth Rogen hit back in the most perfect way: “Some people think that to have a very strong female character, you think you can’t have a flawed character.”
8. Ruth Negga also weighed in on Tulip’s flaws, saying, “She breaks my heart a bit. You see these flashes of vulnerability and kindness.”
9. As for the criticism on the diversion from the source material? Garth Ennis had the final word. “What counts at the end of the day is what makes this thing work.”

We certainly aren’t alone in thinking that Preacher definitely works and the show receiving a second season would be testament to that. Here’s hoping that Preacher will be a Comic-Con staple for many years to come.

Can’t get enough of ‘Preacher’? AMC has released a teaser trailer for the final episodes for everyone to watch!